3 Stakes winners for Nathaniel in 4 days

04/01/2021

The Newsells Park Stud sire Nathaniel enjoyed a successful Christmas week with three Group/Graded winners. On 26th December Spirit Ridge won the Gr.3 Heineken Summer Cup at Randwick in Australia for trainer Mark Newnham and a syndicate of owners. Bred by Juddmonte Farms, Spirit Ridge sold to De Burgh Equine/Darby Racing for 100,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn HIT sales 2019.

On the same day, Nathaniel was represented by a Grade 2 winner over hurdles with Zanahiyr easily landing the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle for three-year-olds at Leopardstown for trainer Gordon Elliott and owners Noel and Valerie Moran. It was his fourth win on the trot having also won the Grade 3 Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse last month by 14l. Bred by The Aga Khan’s Studs, he looks an excellent prospect for the Cheltenham Festival.

Concertista also added to her impressive jumps form when comfortably winning the Grade 3 Advent Insurance Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown on 29th December for trainer Willie Mullins and owners Simon Munir & Isaac Souede. This followed her Grade 2 successes at Fairyhouse in November and Cheltenham in March, and she remains on course for the Cheltenham Festival as well.